By confessing all, administering brutal punishment internally and throwing themselves at the mercy of the FIA, McLaren have proved that contrition pays. A suspended three-race sentence is the best the reigning world champions could have hoped for as punishment for the serious offence of having lied to race stewards. Instead of having to sit out the next grands prix in Spain, Monaco and Turkey and see their already slim chances of retaining the championship destroyed in the process, McLaren can continue racing and put this episode behind them.

Significantly, the team from Woking can begin to embrace a new culture that, it would appear, has been welcomed by the FIA just as readily as the open display of remorse.

Although McLaren will deny it, a substantial factor behind what, for the FIA, is a welcome but surprisingly lenient decision, has been the complete removal of Ron Dennis from the Formula One team. Lessons have clearly been learned from the "spygate" fiasco in 2007 when Dennis's stubborn refusal to accept the truth led to the loss of championship points and a $100m (£67.8m) fine once the facts finally emerged.

This so-called "liargate" case is much less complicated and involves fewer people than the Ferrari spy scandal. Indeed, the Australian incident only became disproportionately convoluted by the stupid and unnecessary subterfuge employed by McLaren's race director, Dave Ryan, and, through association, Lewis Hamilton.

Only McLaren know why Ryan, who left the team immediately, should adopt a diversionary tactic that went against every principle this tough but most straightforward of men had employed during his 35 years with McLaren.

The suspicion remains that the hand of Dennis was behind the hopeless attempt at deception, which explains his hasty departure to pastures new within the company and the FIA's willingness to accept new team boss Martin Whitmarsh's word that his team has turned over a new leaf.

The sentence may be suspended but a repeat of such a crass misjudgment by McLaren is unlikely.